Signaling system



Nov. l, 1932.

M. L. ALMQUIST ET AL SIGNALING SYSTEM Filed March 18, 1932 Circuit fste a M fm: magi y Selector B ak atar C Step in. Magnet l' elector E Release Mag/Ley for eLector INVENTORS ATTORNEY PatentedvNov. '1932'Vj MILro-N' L. Amateuren or' rfrArLEavoong. Ari-ia arisen-'rf e..TioMrsoN,foE :Mo.UY-iv'rrrr'15T! LAKEs. NEW-JERSEY, Assreivonsffmo. Amann-:AN y{ i-uitslag@NE ,Aivnfmnrnenrnf f COMPANY-A CORPORATION orivnw Yorixj' f 145x Y l .A

' VsiGNALIiSTGr sYsirEM y f This inventionfrelates toteleph'ene systems, and more particularly to'improvedarfy rings or signals received.- The-latterdiiE-Y culty is particularly troublesome" at' stations:

rangements for selectively signal'ingany de# siredI one of ain-'umher of'stations! colnr-1e 3tedv across a single line in such systems.` One form of telephoneserviceV consists inl 1 the leasing ei? telephone circuits-'to' subscribers Who Wish to have the exclusiveuse of the facilities. Such-cases frequently involve the bridging' of a number or stationszon a' singlel v'circuit andV it then. becomes 'necessary' to; provide meansf for cal-ling inthe various points When they are Wanted.V @ne'methodl for accomplishing such* signaling haslbeen by the use of code ringinggor by transmit'- tingcode' impulses over' the line toa ac tuate. thesignal responsive devlces at each station",

As heretofore used code ringingr4 is open to several objections, amongjwliichare'the fact n that alli stations.areldisturbedvvhenever 'any one is callediand theiifact thatit-is 'necessaryfor the attendants topcount the number-lof having s'vvitchboa'r'ds',"since:`in these; cases' lamps are usedinstead io'flbells. It is the-priimary object ofl they arrangements fof' 'the-in# vent-ion toV provide automatic countingdejvices in connection Withl each l-i-n'e, whereby the'k code .impulses vvillbei counted `auto'ma-tically and-the proper stationvs'ignaledWithout disturbingAV other stations onfthe line and Without i making *it`A necessary forvthef attendants to` c-cuntthe signals. .Inthefv arrange'- me'nts ofthe invention this isja'ccomplished byvutilizing selector` switch-mechanism togetherv 'with relayswcontrolled' by the code signal impulsesand having a timed: relation'- ship. in their Voperation With A`respect to Veach other.- Other objects and Yfeatures-of in 'Fig'. 2 is a1' vcircuit diagram illustrating' the.

signaling@arrangementsofi the invention; g 7 adaptedfor atvvo-digitfcode; Silni'lar referi-V encel characters have been used tfodenote like: piartsfin kboth figures;

In Fig'. l' is'jshoWn transmission line"L telephone stations,` such? ast-he tellephonef'set 1 and its attendant apparatus lBgj-Theliine .lL-'r Would' be connected? to as ending oice atA which would be provided a key K1 the Vopera.-

station 13f the""key lK1 vvouldgbe operated a number 'o'ftimes sueh,ffor ,exaniple, as iive times2 to send a code signal'for that station over the line/ 'lhesev coude ringingvifmr pulses vvould' be transmitted over line'fL .to the.l signal receiving circuit-l', and (each 'impulse' would? operate the relay 2i The .Y

operation ofprelay'vvould put ground on` a circuit forthes'teppin'g 'magnet 3L' Accord- Lvvouldoperatethe'stepping magnet-Swhich inY turn Wouldmo've thel svvit'ch-armof the selector 'aheadfone st'ep'- l on select-'orfb'ankf' 5. When the Vselector'starts t'o move'aheadtflie orlv normal contacts K5' Will also/'be closed. f l

The first/impulse transmittedtover"the line. 'I

Will, upon the operationof relay 2; close aV ycircuit for 'therelayl and operate it. -'Rfela-y 4`is sutliciently slovvf inreleasing'so' that itfvvill Y.

hold over' the Ybrea'l'sbetween impulses Y making up the mun-ber beingl called' andS over vthe time required for the signal receivi,I1-gioire cuitsto operate..."The-operation of relay V Will Close the circuit for the relay? vvli'cliA Wil-l'diseonn'eet conductors?Sfleadingj tozt'he telephone ser from' the"1ne1Lj,`to preventsany interference with "the signaling dfueV to some'' one talking`- on the circuit during the" signaling periodl- Wh'en-rthefeorrect" number "of s. gnal Y impulses,' fsuch= as? 5; is received, the d VVselector?arm Willlstf'opfon the proper Contact of the bank;` After acer-tain inte'rvalrela l 4 will release and' tliefollovvingcircuit vv-il be completed :r Gr0und, oE-ii'o'rmal'` contacts Kg, conductorl5;` 'armature and) Contact of `relay 4, condnctor"1'-6,- c'ont'aet'slof selector 5j, Y

^ Y conductor 17,y `Windingi of relay 6T t'o` battery. .This will operate-the relayqyvhichlis some= ino "l .f

' up over its left-'hand armature andconta'ct,

what slow-operate to prevent its operation on momentary grounds on the bank Contact, which may occur when the selector is returning to normal from some higher point. The operation of relay 6 will close a circuit over its armature and contact, and conductor 19 for` an indicating device, such as a lamp 9., at the station 13. The relay 6 will also lock conductor 18, armature and Contact of relay 10 to ground. The relay 10 is a slow-operate, l

slow-release relay and will not operateifo'r Va certain interval of time, so that rthe indicating device 9` will .remain operated long enough to obtain the attention of the attend-- ant'at station 13. Relay 10 is slow-release to give relay 6 time to release before relay 10 releases. When the relaylO finally oper- Y ates, the locking circuit for relay 6 will'be broken. If desired the locking circuit for relay v6 might also be brokenwhen the subscriber answersthe telephone. These means are provided to prevent the signal from operating indefinately. lNhen the relay 4 releases, in addition to the operations just indicated ground will be applied from conductor 16 to the winding of relay 11, which is a slowoperate relay and will eventually operate this relay. The operation of relay 11y will close a circuit for the release magnet 12, which will return the selector to its original condition. This will also open the olf-normal contacts K2. Relay 11 is slow-operate to give relay 6 l time to function before the release magnet is energized. Apparatussimilar to that heretofore described aiid'shown associated with station-13 vwould be provided for each ofthe other stations connected to the'iine. The selectors at other stations on the circuit will, of course, step at the same time as the selector associated with station 13. 1However, the relays similar to relay 6 associated with such selectors will not be operated when the selectors stop on the fifth Contact as they will be connected to other contacts at other stations, and no signal will be given except at station 13. The release Vof relay 4 ateach station will causethe operation of relayl 11 and tlie=release Ymagnet at each point and hence cause all the selectors to return tonermal after the last ringing impulse is received.

In Fig. 2 the arrangements of the invention are shown for. use with a two-digit code. vSimilar reference characters have been utilized to denote like parts with respect to Fig. 1. The arrangements are substantially similar to those of Fig. 1 except that an additional bank 26 of the selector is used and the relays 36, 27 and 29 are added.

The operation of the arrangementsof Fig. 2 is as follows: The code signal for the station. 13 in the arrangements shown would be la digit'of four impulses' followed by one of seven impulses. rllhis would be transmitted over the line L by the actuation of key K1.

release relays 4 and 29 would also be operated and would remain operated during transmission of the first code digit. The operation of the selector would also close the olf-normal contacts K2. When the transmisi sion of the lirst digit was completed an arm ofthe selector switch would remain on the fourth contact of selector bank 5 and ground would be applied to conductor 17 and relay 36 as soon as relay 4 released. rlhis would operate relay 36 which would operaterelay 27 and lock up over its left-hand contact and. the armature and contact of the previously operated slow-releaserelay 29. Relay 29 is suiiiciently slow in releasing to hold over the break between the .two groups of pulses making up the two digits and over the operating time of the signal receiving circuit. rlfhe release of relay 4 will in a mannerY similar to that heretofore described cause the operation of relay 11 and the releaseinagnet 12 for the selector. This will now return the selector switch to its normal position land open contacts K2. The key K1 will now be operated to transmit over the line the second group'of pulses making up the second digit of the code. This will in a mannersiinilar to that already described reoperate relay 4 and causes the arms of the selector switch to step arouiid'to theproper position on the selector banks, which in this case will be the seventh position. Nhen the relay 4 now releases due to thecessation of the signaling impulses, ground will be applied over conductors 16, arm and contact of selectorbaiik 26, conductor 31, to the inner right-hand contact of relay 36.V rlhe relay 36,Vv as ,has been previously pointed out, has been operated and in turn has caused the operation ofrelay 27. Ground will Vaccordingly be applied over conductor 29, contact and armature of relay 27, to winding lof relay 6 to battery,'tliereby operating relay 6. Relay 27 ismade slowoperating to prevent the operation of relay 6 which would occur if the two digits of the code were the same and relay 6 Vwere connected to selectorbank26 before the selector releases between th-e Vdigits. The operation of relay will close a circuit for the indicating device, such as lamp 9, as in the preceding case. .Relay 6 will lock up over an( lul the i ofi Y'the 'to normal;

Similar. apparat-us Would. be;` provided i for the other stations on theline,` andconductors similar to 17 :and-31" rWould'be connectedto the contacts `on the selector banks tliere'a't havebeensliovvn as embodied. in certain specitc` arrangements which are deemed desir-Kv able, it is pointed ou that they vare capable co,rrespondingY tofthe proper" digits of" the particular codefor each of said'stations.`

` The arrangements shoWn'Figsrl and@ might, if desired, both be connected tothe same line for use at different stations'there-Vy on' If this is done,'tlie onlyli'mitation,vv isthat codes involvingthe saine digits may notl be used on both typesof selectors, that is, if: A 54 is usedon the one-digitselectors, no'code using 4 may be used' on the. two-digit' selectors, and vice versa; Y, /Vhile the arrangements of thefinvention of embodiment in many and othervvidely vav iied forms Without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined by the appended claims. y

Vhat is claimed'is:

. l. A transmission line having a plurality of stations connected thereto, means Vfor apf plying code signalsfto said line, and means at each oi" said stations responsive to said i code signals, each of said responsive means comprising a selector mechanism including ai switch arm cooperatingvvith a bank'of con-l tacts, a stepping magnet operated by said code signals for steppingsaid selector switch arm ahead, rela-y means-operated by said code signals and released at an interval after said code signals cease, and a signaling circuit for said station connected to one of thecontacts of said selector bank andcompleted by the release of said relay.

2. A transmission line having a plurality` of stations connected thereto, means for applying code signals to said line, and means at each of said stations responsive to said code signals, each of said responsive means comprising selector mechanism a including a svvitch arm cooperating Withv a! bank of c on'- 'tacts, a stepping magnetV operatedby said -code signals for stepping said selectorsvvitch arm ahead, relay means operated by said code signals and released at an interval after said code signals cease, a signaling circuit for said station connected to one of the contacts of said selector'bank and completed bythe release of said relay, saidsignaling circuit comprising a relay With locking means there-V,l for, and a circuit including an indicating device vcontrolled by said last mentioned relay.

of stations connected thereto, means for vapplying code signalsto said line, and means at each of said stations responsive'to said code signals, each of said responsive means comprising selector mechanism including a 3. A transmissionline having aplurality' switch-f cooperatingwithiai bankof" con;` i

tacts", a, stepping magneti operat'edifby` said,

Vcode signals "for, 'stepping said" .selector syvitchjarm 'aheadyrel'ay'means operated by* vsaid code'signals and, released at' an interval' after said'code signals cease, asignaling cir -V` contacts of saidf selector bankV and completed bythe release of said.relaysaid,circuitiinf y I' cluding a' relay with locking rnsans-therefor,i a circuitVv including an: indicating' device at Y saidfst'at'ion controlledv bysaid last mentioned relay, and 'means operatingati aniinterval-l cuit; tor said stationv connectedl to one: off the? f Aafter .the energiza-tion "of'said lastmentioned relay for for. 1 c, a 4. A transmission. linerliavingffai plurality Vofstations` connected thereto, ,means "for `ape' releasing,y the locking means: thereplying code signals to said; line, and; means` i i at" each ofsadl stationsv responsive to',` said: codev signals, each ofr`v saidf responsivev means comprising selector mechanism including a;

code ysignals for stepping s aidfselectonjswitch arm ahead,.relayimeansopera-ted by said kcode signals and releasedat'. an interval after said i code signalsfcease, a'. signaling circuit,I for.

saidistation connectedi toi one of the; contacts ofi said selector bankandcompleted by the release oi said relay, said circuity including 4a. relay withv locking :means:` therefon: a cir- *cuit including anY indicating? device ati said station controlled byk said. last vmentioned relay, andi means operatingY at" an. interval after 'the releaseof saidJfirstl mentioned relay for: restoring" said:V selector'niechanisml to normal.

of stations connected thereto, v, means for ap;-

5; transmission'r linev having.` al plurality switch. arm cooperating WithA a; bank: offcon'- u tacts, .al stepping magnet 0perated:,b`y1'said' plfyillg code.r signals to said line', and ymeans g at each or* said? stations responsive 'to -said code signals, ea'cli" of? saidv responsive Vmeans f comprising,selector mechanismincluding'fa i switch V'arm cooperating Withi av bank ofi'con fta'cts, a'y stepping magnet-operated: by said Ycode signals `for-"stepping"said selector switch Y arm'ahe'ad, relaylmeans operated by said-code signals and vreleasedfat 'an interval after said "codey signals cease, andi afsignaling'-cir'cuit -forfsaidfstation connected to onefof the coni'- aio as r

35 vice `for said relay mechanism, means associing twoswitch arms each cooperating with a separate bank of contacts, a stepping magnet operated bysaid two-digit code impulses for stepping said two selector switch arms ahead, a slow-release relay held-,operated by said 4 code signals and released at an intervalvaiter the'transmissionl of each digitV ci said code signals, a circuit connected to one of said-se-` lector banks and completed upon the lirst release of said slow-release relay for preparing a signaling circuit for said station, and-means associated with the other of said selector banksand operative upon the second, release of said slow-release'relay Jforcompleting said prepared signalingcircuit.

2. A transmission line having a. pluralityV of stationsconnected thereto, means `for applying code signals to said line, the code signals vfor each station comprising two-digits each having one or more signal impulses, and means at each of said stations responsive to said code signals, each of said responsive means comprising selector mechanism including two switch arms each cooperating with a separate bank of contacts, a stepping` magnet, operated by said two-digit code impulses for stepping said two selector switch arms ahead, a slow-release relay held operated by said codesignals and released at an interval after the transmission of each digit ofsaid code signals, a circuit connected to one loi: said selector banks and completed upon the first release of said slow-release relay for operating relay mechanism for preparing a signaling circuit for said station, a locking` deated with the other of said selector banks and operative upon the secondV release of said slow-release relay for completing said prepared signaling circuit, means operative upon eachv release of said slow-release relay for restoring said selector switch to normal, and means operative at an interval after the Vfinal cessation of said signals for releasing said locking d evice for said relay mechanism.

8. A transmission line having a plurality ofstations connectedv thereto, means for applying code signals to said line, the code sign`als for eachV station comprising two-digits each having one or more signal impulses, and means'at each of said vstations responsive to said code signals, eachy of said responsive means comprising selector mechanism including two switch arms each cooperating with aseparate bank ci contacts, a stepping mag- Y net operated by said two-digit Acode impulses for stepping Lsaid two selector switch arms ahead, a slow-release relay held operated by Vsaid code signals and released at an interval after the transmission of each digit of said station, a locking device Jfor said relay mecha-M nism, means associated withthe other of said selector banks and operative upon the second release of said second mentioned slow-release relay circuit, means operative upon each release of said second mentioned slow-release relay for restoring said selector switch to normal, means operative at an interval after ythe iinal cessation of said signals for releasing said locking device for said relay mechanism, and means operative at an interval after the completion of said prepared signaling circuit for releasing said signaling circuit.

ln testimony whereof, `we have signed our names to this specilication this 16th day of March,v 1932. MILTON L..ALMQUIST.

C. THOMPSON.

code signals, .a circuit connected to one of ysaidlselector banks and completed upon the first release of said second mentioned slowrelease relaylforv operating: relay mechanism .for preparing a signaling circultfor said lor completing said prepared signaling DISCLAIMER 1,885,214.-Milt0n L. Almgnist, Maplewood, and Albert O. Thompson, Mountain Lakes, N. J. SIGNALING SYsTEM. Patent dated November 1, 1932. Dis'- claimer filed August ,29, 1933, by the assignee, American Telephone and Telegraph Company. Hereby enters this disclaimer to claims 1 to 6 of said Letters Patent, to wit: 1. A transmission line having a plurality of stations connected thereto, means for applying code signals to said line, and means at each of said stations responsive to said code signals, each of said responsive means comprising a selector mechanism including a switch arm cooperating with a bank of contacts, a stepping magnet operated by said code signals for stepping said selector switch arm ahead, relay means operated by said code signals and released at an interval after said code signals cease, and a signaling circuit for said station connected to one of the contacts of said selector bank and completed by the release of said relay.

2. A transmission line having a plurality of stations connected thereto, means for applying code signals to said line, and means at each of said stations responsive to said code signals, each of said responsive means comprising selector mechanism including a switch arm cooperating with a bank of contacts, a stepping magnet operated by said code signals for stepping said selector switch arm ahead, relay means operated by said code signals and released at an interval after said code signals cease, a signaling circuit for said station connected to one of the contacts of said selector bank and completed by the release of said relay, said signaling circuit comprising a relay with locking means therefor, and a circuit including an indicating device controlled by said last mentioned relay.

3. A transmission line having a plurality of stations connected thereto, means for applying code-signals to said line, and means at each of said stations responsive to said code signals, each of said responsive means comprising selector mechanism including a switch arm cooperating with a bank of contacts, a stepping magnet operated by said code signals for stepping said selector switch arm ahead, relay means operated by said code signals and released at an interval after said code signals cease, a signaling circuit for said station connected to one of the contacts of said selector bank and completed by the release of said relay, said circuit including a relay with locking means therefor, a circuit including an indicating device at said station controlled by said last mentioned relay, and means operating at an interval after the energization of said last mentioned relay for releasing the locking means therefor.

4. A transmission line having a plurality of stations connected thereto, means for applying code signals to said line, and means at each of said stations responsive to said code signals, each of said responsive means comprising selector mechanism including a switch arm cooperating with a bank of contacts, a stepping magnet operated by said code signals for stepping said selector switch arm ahead, relay means operated by said code signals and released at an interval after said code signals cease, a signaling circuit for said station connected to one of the contacts oi said selector bank and completed by the release oi said relay, said circuit including a relay with locking means therefor, a circuit including an indicating device at said station controlled by said last mentioned relay, and means operating at an interval after the release of said iirst mentioned relay for restoring said selector mechanism to normal.

5. A transmission line having a plurality of stations connected thereto, means for applying code signals to said line, and means at each of said stations responsive to said code signals, each oi said responsive means comprising selector mechanism including a switch arm cooperating with a bank oi contacts, a stepping magnet operated by said code signals for stepping said selector switch arm ahead, relay means operated by said code signals and released at an interval after said code signals cease, and a signaling circuit for said station connected to one of the contacts of said selector bank and completed by the release of said relay means, the signaling circuits at each oi said stations being connected to one of the selector contacts thereat diiierent from those having signaling circuits connected thereto at other stations.

6. A transmission line having a plurality of stations connected thereto, means for applying code signals to said line, the code signals for each station comprising two digits each having one or more signal impulses, and means at each of said stations responsive to .said code signals, each of said responsive means comprising selector mechanism including two switch arms each cooperating with a separate bank of contacts, a stepping magnet operated by said two-digit code impulses for stepping 'said two selector switch arms ahead, a slow-release relay held operated by said code sig-i nals and released at an interval after the transmission of each digit of said code signals, a circuit connected to one of said selector banks and completed upon the lirst release of said slow-release relay for preparing a signaling circuit for said station; and means associated With the other of said selector banks and operative upon the second release of said slow-release relay for completing said prepared signaling circuit.

[Oleial Gazette September 26, 1.933.] 

